At this week's Frankfurt Book Fair, Ellie Berger at Scholastic acquired at auction a three-book middle-grade fantasy adventure series by Inbali Iserles, called I Am Fox. Foxcraft, the first book in the series, is scheduled for 2015. Inbali Iserles is one of the team of authors who writes the Survivors series under the Erin Hunter pseudonym. The books will be published simultaneously in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, in both print and e-book. Zoe King at the Blair Partnership did the deal for world English rights.
Phoebe Yeh at Crown has bought world English rights to The Pyxis by Zoe Ferrais, first in a trilogy. In the novel, when Emma's parents are kidnapped, she is shocked to learn that they’re not even from planet Earth: her mother is actually the pirate leader of a rebel faction battling the tyrant Queen of Virgo, and everyone is determined to get their hands on the Pyxis. A spring 2015 pub date has been set; Charlie Olsen of InkWell Management negotiated the deal.
Michelle Poploff at Delacorte has acquired The Summoner's Handbook by Frank Cole in a pre-empt. The story centers on a nerdy sixth-grader and a clueless boy (sent from the Afterlife on his first "Guardian Agent" mission), who must work together to save the world from an eclectic horde of demons. A release in 2015 is planned; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Paula Wiseman at Simon & Schuster's Paula Wiseman Books imprint has acquired author-illustrator Elizabeth Rose Stanton's second picture book, called Peddles. In the story, Peddles desperately wants to be more than just an ordinary pig, but when he tries to stand out, it doesn't go at all according to plan. Publication is set for fall 2015; Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media did the deal for world rights.
Sarah Landis at HarperTeen has bought Kasie West's The Fill-In Boyfriend, about a girl whose boyfriend dumps her in the parking lot on prom night, so she grabs a "fill-in" date in order to convince her friends her boyfriend is real. Publication is tentatively scheduled for summer 2015. Michelle Wolfson at Wolfson Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Ellie Berger at Scholastic has acquired the 11th and 12th books in the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000 will be published on August 26, 2014, followed by Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot in August 2015. In addition, Scholastic will publish new editions of Pilkey's seven-book Ricky Ricotta series, with new full-color art by Dan Santat, beginning in May 2014, and will add two new titles in fall 2014 and spring 2015. Both the Captain Underpants and Ricky Ricotta books will be published simultaneously by Scholastic in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. Anamika Bhatnagar will edit. Amy Berkower at Writers House negotiated on behalf of Pilkey, and Jodi Reamer at Writers House represented Santat.
Cecily Kaiser at Abrams Appleseed has acquired eight books in the Thingy Thing series by Chris Raschka. In April 2014, the first two new titles, Crabby Crab and Cowy Cow will be published alongside refreshed editions of Lamby Lamb and Whaley Whale. In September 2014, new titles Buggy Bug and Clammy Clam will be published alongside refreshed editions of Moosey Moose and Doggy Dog. Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates was the agent.
Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has acquired two books by debut author David Hofmeyr. In the first, Stone Rider, a boy who has lost everything joins a brutal race to win the chance to escape his dying world. Infused with the author's love of Westerns, the novel, due out in 2015, is set in a dustbowl town where rival tribes of teenagers ride semi-sentient mechanical bikes instead of horses. Zosia Knopp at Penguin UK negotiated for U.S. and Canadian rights.
Elizabeth Tingue at Razorbill has acquired Captivating, a debut YA novel by Meredith Moore, and a second novel. The first book tells the story of Vivian, who was raised with one goal: to exact vengeance on the man who broke her mother's heart two decades earlier. Vivian targets an innocent senior named Ben as part of the revenge plot, but as the plan is set into motion, she starts to uncover dark and deadly secrets. Alexandra Machinist at Janklow & Nesbit did the deal for world English rights.
Yolanda Scott at Charlesbridge has bought Strong As Sandow: The Story of Eugen Sandow, Strongest Man on Earth, by Don Tate, who will also illustrate. The picture book tells the story of Victorian strongman Eugen Sandow, who became known as the "father of modern-day bodybuilding," and who revolutionized the physical fitness industry. A pub date has not yet been set; Caryn Wiseman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated for world rights.
Cindy Loh at Bloomsbury has acquired two books by Gerry Swallow, author (under the name Dr. Cuthbert Soup) of A Whole Nother Story, in a six-figure deal. Bloomsbury's new editorial director, Catherine Onder, will edit the first book, Krool, and the untitled middle-grade adventure. Krool, scheduled for fall 2015, follows Elspeth Pule, an 11-year-old accustomed to getting whatever she wants. When her parents finally stand up to her, Elspeth responds by holding her breath until she passes out and hits her head on the coffee table. She awakens to find herself in Krool, a strange world. Cheryl Pientka of Jill Grinberg Literary Management did the deal.
Chelsea Eberly at Random House will publish Mark Goldblatt's middle-grade novel Pickle in spring 2015. In this sequel to Goldblatt's Twerp, Julian “Twerp” Twerski journals to his teacher about his escapades with friends, and explores themes of life, death, and baseball. Scott Gould at RLR Associates negotiated for world rights.
Victoria Rock at Chronicle has bought world rights to The Steam Train, author-illustrator Ben Mantle's first original work, in which a boy's discovery leads to an unusually satisfying journey. The pub date is scheduled for spring 2015; Kirsten Hall at the Bright Agency did the deal.
The C.S. Lewis Company and the Mark Gordon Company will jointly develop and produce The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair, the fourth book in C.S. Lewis's fantasy series. Mark Gordon and Douglas Gresham, along with Vincent Sieber, the Los Angeles-based director of the C.S. Lewis Company, will serve as producers. Michele Wolkoff and Sara Smith will oversee for the Mark Gordon Company.
